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Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Laden?

Smeagol

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If I recall, a big controversy in 2008 was Obama's assertion that he would engage in military actions against Al Qaeda inside Pakistani borders WITHOUT Pakistani consent. If I further recall this policy was hugely criticized at the time by many leaders on the right as this would offend 'our key ally in the War on Terror'. As events panned out, Obama was elected POTUS and it was this very policy that led to the intelligence required to locate Al Qaeda Chief Osama Bin Laden which led to his ultimate demise all without the foreknowledge of the Pakistani government who it turns out were the ones hiding him near their equivalent of West Point. Now all of sudden leaders on the right are saying President Obama deserves NO credit for taking out the leader of the terrorist organization that committed the worst case of mass murder on American soil because ANY PRESIDENT would have done the same thing. Ah hem...do we have an honestly problem, memory lapse or am I not seeing something correctly? Help Smeagol understand...THE PRECOCIOUS!
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

If I recall, a big controversy in 2008 was Obama's assertion that he would engage in military actions against Al Qaeda inside Pakistani borders WITHOUT Pakistani consent. If I further recall this policy was hugely criticized at the time by many leaders on the right as this would offend 'our key ally in the War on Terror'. As events panned out, Obama was elected POTUS and it was this very policy that led to the intelligence required to locate Al Qaeda Chief Osama Bin Laden which led to his ultimate demise all without the foreknowledge of the Pakistani government who it turns out were the ones hiding him near their equivalent of West Point. Now all of sudden leaders on the right are saying President Obama deserves NO credit for taking out the leader of the terrorist organization that committed the worst case of mass murder on American soil because ANY PRESIDENT would have done the same thing. Ah hem...do we have an honestly problem, memory lapse or am I not seeing something correctly? Help Smeagol understand...THE PRECOCIOUS!
Osama Bin Laden was killed on Obama's watch. I see no reason to not give the man credit for that hit.
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

Who the hell ever said that Obama doesn't get credit for bin Laden.
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

Who the hell ever said that Obama doesn't get credit for bin Laden.

Plenty of conservatives on this board, for starters.
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

Who the hell ever said that Obama doesn't get credit for bin Laden.

I was watching CNN tonight and Pawlenty essentially did. As close as verbatim as I can remember "he has no record of success except for the killing of Bin Laden, which ANY President would have done." I listen to a local talk radio station that airs a station promotional announcement from a popular host with the expert "Obama deserves ZERO credit for killing Bin Laden". I hear it pretty regularly from different key fugues. I'm sure I could google it and find more.
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

Plenty of conservatives on this board, for starters.

No one said he doesn't get the feather in his cap. Just don't go overboard with it, making it look almost as if Obama was in the trenches leading the strike team that infiltrated UBL's crib.
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

I was watching CNN tonight and Pawlenty essentially did. As close as verbatim as I can remember "he has no record of success except for the killing of Bin Laden, which ANY President would have done." I listen to a local talk radio station that airs a station promotional announcement from a popular host with the expert "Obama deserves ZERO credit for killing Bin Laden". I hear it pretty regularly from different key fugues. I'm sure I could google it and find more.

What's wrong with that?
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

If I recall, a big controversy in 2008 was Obama's assertion that he would engage in military actions against Al Qaeda inside Pakistani borders WITHOUT Pakistani consent. If I further recall this policy was hugely criticized at the time by many leaders on the right as this would offend 'our key ally in the War on Terror'. As events panned out, Obama was elected POTUS and it was this very policy that led to the intelligence required to locate Al Qaeda Chief Osama Bin Laden which led to his ultimate demise all without the foreknowledge of the Pakistani government who it turns out were the ones hiding him near their equivalent of West Point. Now all of sudden leaders on the right are saying President Obama deserves NO credit for taking out the leader of the terrorist organization that committed the worst case of mass murder on American soil because ANY PRESIDENT would have done the same thing. Ah hem...do we have an honestly problem, memory lapse or am I not seeing something correctly? Help Smeagol understand...THE PRECOCIOUS!

I don't recall that as being a criticism particularly from the right. I recall it mostly from libertarians and the anti-war left, not from neo-cons.
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

I don't recall that as being a criticism particularly from the right. I recall it mostly from libertarians and the anti-war left, not from neo-cons.

"Mitt Romney's campaign responds with this statement from press secretary Andrea Saul: “The killing of Osama bin Laden was a momentous day for all Americans and the world, and Governor Romney congratulated the military, our intelligence agencies, and the President. It's now sad to see the Obama campaign seek to use an event that unified our country to once again divide us, in order to try to distract voters' attention from the failures of his administration. With 23 million Americans struggling for work, our national debt soaring, and household budgets being squeezed like never before, Mitt Romney is focused on strengthening America at home and abroad.”
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

What's wrong with that?

The point was it was the right who condemned Obama's 2008 position to act militarily inside Pakistani borders, said it was a bad idea, etc. that arguably was the only way Bin Laden could have been located and killed. Now they say any President would have done the same thing.
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

"Mitt Romney's campaign responds with this statement from press secretary Andrea Saul: “The killing of Osama bin Laden was a momentous day for all Americans and the world, and Governor Romney congratulated the military, our intelligence agencies, and the President. It's now sad to see the Obama campaign seek to use an event that unified our country to once again divide us, in order to try to distract voters' attention from the failures of his administration. With 23 million Americans struggling for work, our national debt soaring, and household budgets being squeezed like never before, Mitt Romney is focused on strengthening America at home and abroad.”

What does this have to do with my comment regarding criticism of Obama for violating Pakistani sovereignty?
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

"Mitt Romney's campaign responds with this statement from press secretary Andrea Saul: “The killing of Osama bin Laden was a momentous day for all Americans and the world, and Governor Romney congratulated the military, our intelligence agencies, and the President. It's now sad to see the Obama campaign seek to use an event that unified our country to once again divide us, in order to try to distract voters' attention from the failures of his administration. With 23 million Americans struggling for work, our national debt soaring, and household budgets being squeezed like never before, Mitt Romney is focused on strengthening America at home and abroad.”

What did Romney say in 2008 about Obama's position of violating Pakistani if necessary in order to go after Al Qaeda? I'm honest not 100% sure but I do remember almost every Republican around was slamming him for that policy.
 
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Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

I don't recall that as being a criticism particularly from the right. I recall it mostly from libertarians and the anti-war left, not from neo-cons.

I love the "I don't recall" defense, a nice touch. Reminded me of Halderman.
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

No one said he doesn't get the feather in his cap. Just don't go overboard with it, making it look almost as if Obama was in the trenches leading the strike team that infiltrated UBL's crib.
I dont think anyone ever did that here...
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

I was a great accomplishment and not his only one. He's also failed in a few important areas. This election isn't about good, it's about good enough.

((OPINION ALERT))
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

I love the "I don't recall" defense, a nice touch. Reminded me of Halderman.

Then, please, refresh my memory with evidence.
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

What did Romney say in 2008 about Obama's position of violating Pakistani if necessary in order to go after Al Qaeda? I'm honest not 100% sure but I do remember almost every Republican around was slamming him for that policy.

I don't believe so. Ron Paul did. That's about it. Which other Republican declared it was a mistake to go into Pakistan to nab OBL without Pakistan's permission?
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

All I'm saying is you cannot honest say "any president would have" in 2012 when you said "we shouldn't" in 2008. Thus IMHO President Obama deserves credit for protecting Americans in a manner few Republicans would have by the own admission unless they chose to revise history, which interestingly is being done.

Obama Takes Heat on Pakistan - NYTimes.com
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

The point was it was the right who condemned Obama's 2008 position to act militarily inside Pakistani borders, said it was a bad idea, etc. that arguably was the only way Bin Laden could have been located and killed. Now they say any President would have done the same thing.

McCain specified that he would not get Bin Laden in Pakistan without notifying the Govt. who we know would just have moved him. Obama has done much better against Alqeada than Bush did or McCain would of. That's what burns them up. We actually feel safe again, no one could breath with that beady eyed Bush bungling at every turn.
75% of Romney's foreign policy advisor's are Bush men, many of them neocons. Neocons chomping at the bit, just what we need to bring down the deficit.
 
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Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

All I'm saying is you cannot honest say "any president would have" in 2012 when you said "we shouldn't" in 2008. Thus IMHO President Obama deserves credit for protecting Americans in a manner few Republicans would have by the own admission unless they chose to revise history, which interestingly is being done.

Obama Takes Heat on Pakistan - NYTimes.com

Um, that was 2007. Before Obama was president.

The criticism from the Bush administration was not a criticism of the policy of venturing into Pakistan without permission (after all, the Bush administration conducted cross border drone strikes into Pakistan as well). It was a criticism of publicly stating that's what you plan on doing. Basically, they viewed it as a foreign relations faux pas - effectively publicly kicking sand in the face of Musharraf.

Still, I challenge you to find a Republican other than Ron Paul who declared Obama's call to enter Pakistan to get OBL a mistake.
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

Cue up to 3:11 if it doesn't do so on its own. 2007 Iowa ABC Republican Debate (Part 6) - YouTube

Giuliani IMHO was real wishy washy. Romney, in fairness, seems to be trying to be diplomatic but might consider using the Obama Doctrine of going into Pakistan without Pakistani permission. Bottom line, despite in 2008 being painted as friend of terrorists who's middle name sounds like terrorist, loves the bad guys, hates America; he ordered the raid on raid on Abbottabad when as far as I recall none of his critics in 2008 supported now they saying they would have done the exact same thing. Some go as far as saying "he deserves no credit for it".
 
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Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

McCain specified that he would not get Bin Laden in Pakistan without notifying the Govt. who we know would just have moved him..

If you can't recognize the difference between what a politician says he will do and what a politician actually does, you're going to have a bad time.
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

Cue up to 3:11 if it doesn't do so on its own. 2007 Iowa ABC Republican Debate (Part 6) - YouTube

Giuliani IMHO was real wishy washy. Romney, in fairness, seems to be trying to be diplomatic but might consider using the Obama Doctrine of going into Pakistan without Pakistani permission. Bottom line, despite in 2008 being painted as friend of terrorists who's middle name sounds like terrorist, loves the bad guys, hates America; he ordered the raid on raid on Abbottabad when as far as I recall none of his critics in 2008 supported now they saying they would have done the exact same thing.

So you concede that you don't know of any republicans who criticized (that's past tense, it's hard to criticize Obama's 2011 actions in 2007) obama for entering pakistan without their permission to get OBL?
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

If I recall, a big controversy in 2008 was Obama's assertion that he would engage in military actions against Al Qaeda inside Pakistani borders WITHOUT Pakistani consent. If I further recall this policy was hugely criticized at the time by many leaders on the right as this would offend 'our key ally in the War on Terror'. As events panned out, Obama was elected POTUS and it was this very policy that led to the intelligence required to locate Al Qaeda Chief Osama Bin Laden which led to his ultimate demise all without the foreknowledge of the Pakistani government who it turns out were the ones hiding him near their equivalent of West Point. Now all of sudden leaders on the right are saying President Obama deserves NO credit for taking out the leader of the terrorist organization that committed the worst case of mass murder on American soil because ANY PRESIDENT would have done the same thing. Ah hem...do we have an honestly problem, memory lapse or am I not seeing something correctly? Help Smeagol understand...THE PRECOCIOUS!

He did a great job, I give him full credit, tough decision and he made the right call. Lets see if I can think of anything else he did right............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................I'll get back with you if I can come up with something
 
Re: Are people being honest when they don't give Obama credit for taking out Bin Lade

Um, that was 2007. Before Obama was president.

The criticism from the Bush administration was not a criticism of the policy of venturing into Pakistan without permission (after all, the Bush administration conducted cross border drone strikes into Pakistan as well). It was a criticism of publicly stating that's what you plan on doing. Basically, they viewed it as a foreign relations faux pas - effectively publicly kicking sand in the face of Musharraf.

Still, I challenge you to find a Republican other than Ron Paul who declared Obama's call to enter Pakistan to get OBL a mistake.


Candidate romney 2007

"I do not concur in the words of Barack Obama in a plan to enter an ally of ours"

Romney attacks Obama over Pakistan warning | Reuters
 
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